Net Zero Training by Homesol

Net Zero Training by Homesol on April 25 in Curran

Improving the energy efficiency of existing homes is crucial to reaching Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions goals. There are over 14 million existing homes in Canada, all of which need to achieve Net Zero ready performance by 2050. Through the Canadian Homes Builder’s Association (CHBA) Net Zero Home Labelling program and their Towards Net Zero Reno Initiative, we will be advancing proven technologies and approaches to pursue net zero levels of performance in the most cost-effective ways possible, a key to making it possible for more Canadians to not only increase the comfort in their home, but also reduce their energy consumption and GHG emissions.

With support from Natural Resources Canada, the CHBA Towards Net Zero Reno Initiative is working with select Municipalities that have programs supporting deep energy retrofits to give direction to their constituents on viable pathways to upgrade existing homes to Net Zero or Net Zero Ready. The scope of this project is to support the industry in delivering 100-150 Net Zero Renovations across Canada, representing a variety of climate zones and geographical areas and to build capacity through providing Net Zero training for Renovators, Builders, Energy Advisors, relevant contractors, and municipalities, and to develop tools and processes that will allow for a scalable and cost-effective house-as-a-system approach to improving homes through the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program.

Homesol Building Solutions is a Net Zero Qualified Service Organization with Net Zero Qualified Energy Advisors and Trainers. We are one of the leaders in the industry providing Net Zero training to home builders, renovators, and contractors, and have helped over 150 projects achieve Net Zero labels.

The next training session is the Advanced Building Science course (a prerequisite for the Net Zero Builder course) in Curran Ontario, 896 Elizabeth St, K0B 1C0, on the 25th of April 2023 from 8 am to 4 pm. The cost will be $400 + tax.

Contact Mark from our Ontario division to get your tickets: mark.wease@homesol.ca

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New Energy Advisor in Kitchener-Waterloo: Jason Cheng

“I grew up in the Greater Toronto Area and studied at McGill University for my Bachelor of Science.  I started my professional career in the telecommunications sector in Montreal; providing technical support and account management for unified communication products for 8 years.  I later moved back to the GTA in 2017 and worked for Rogers Communications, also in a technical support role for residential cable services for the past 4 years.

I decided earlier this year to make a career change, more in line with my studies, passions, and interests.  I’ve always been inspired by the work of climate action leaders like David Suzuki, David Attenborough, Al Gore, Greta Thunberg, and alike. After discovering the role of an energy advisor, I started studying and passed both exams, traveled to Chicago to see the Energy Revolution exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Centre, listened to countless webinars from Efficiency Canada (Carleton University), Building Knowledge Canada, and reading publications related to our industry. Most recently, I’ve joined and volunteered time with a local climate change action group in my community and lobbied our government for more aggressive targets on emissions caps on the oil and gas industry.

In my personal time, I enjoy traveling, spending time in nature, and being active. That includes over two decades of camping experience around Ontario’s provincial parks, the Muskoka and Kawartha regions, and have been playing golf for the past 6 years. In 2016, I went backpacking across Southeast Asia for 6 months, covering Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Taiwan and I’m currently a certified advanced open-water diver with PADI with hopes to pursue further certification in the future.”

Jason will be operating out of and providing Energy Assessments to those in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Book your Energy Assessment today to get started!

Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Ontario EAs Now Service MURBs

Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

It’s official! Homesol Building Solutions now has Energy Advisors who specialize in servicing and assessing Multi-Unit Residential Buildings or MURBs as they are also known. There are many rebates available in the Canada Greener Homes Grant exclusively for MURBs, and MURBs can receive up to $20,000 under the program. Contact Homesol Building Solutions today to get started!

Homesol now Services Alberta

Homesol now Services Alberta

Alberta

Homesol Building Solutions now has Energy Advisors in Alberta! Alberta is the latest province Homesol has expanded to, and our Energy Advisors will cover the areas of Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and everywhere in between!

Homesol’s Canada Expansion

Starting in Ottawa in 1999, since then we have expanded to cover all of Ontario, then New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and now Alberta! As the demand for Energy Advisors surges across the country, Homesol continues to expand across our great nation!

If you are interested in having an Energy Assessment completed for your home to make energy-efficient and environmental upgrades, book an audit with us today!

Homesol Is Expanding Across Ontario

Homesol Is Expanding Across Ontario

Homesol is Expanding

As the demand for Registered Energy Advisors across Canada increases to build better and more energy-efficient homes & buildings, Homesol Building Solutions continues to grow across Canada. We now have Energy Advisors in the Greater Toronto Area, Sudbury Ontario, and North Bay Ontario. Contact Homesol Building Solutions today to book an Energy Assessment for your home to see if you qualify for home energy upgrades.

Contact Us!

being an energy advisor

What is it Like Being an Energy Advisor?

Written by David Hope, Energy Advisor and Ontario Assistant Regional Manager at Homesol Building Solutions

Over the last 3+ years, I have had the good fortune of being a Registered Energy Advisor (REA) with Homesol Building Solutions Inc.

Starting this new career was not the easiest transition for me, but it has yielded tremendous opportunities. My previous career as a Certified Carpenter provided a lot of transferable skills to assist in the EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) on-site residential home energy evaluations. It was the computer modelling and report writing, aka desk work, that challenged me. After finding a new balance and realizing the potential flexibility in my work and personal schedule, I found a great appreciation for my new position as an REA.

Attaining your Natural Resources Canada licence to become an REA can be just the beginning. Beyond the Federal Greener Homes Grant Initiative there are opportunities to pursue continuing education as a Multi-unit Residential Building (MURB) Energy Advisor; Quality Assurance Specialist in both Residential and MURB’s; EnergyStar, NetZero, LEED, and Passive House Third Party Verifier; and Building Science Consultant on both existing and new residential home construction.

Homesol Building Solutions Inc. has conducted itself as a group of professional Energy Conservation Consultants since 1999. Founded in Perth, Ontario, we now serve Canadians from coast to coast!

Homesol’s Energy Advisors and green building consultants work with builders, renovators, designers and homeowners in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and throughout North America, to deliver energy-efficient green building solutions for residential new construction or retrofit projects, from energy modelling, thermography and “blower door” air leakage testing, to ENERGY STAR Certified homes and third-party verified EnerGuide Ratings, and high-performance R-2000, Net Zero, Passive House and beyond.

Residential buildings, done right, can easily enjoy fresh, clean air and comfortable temperatures year-round, with a substantial reduction in energy use over standard construction, while addressing water use, indoor air quality and environmentally-preferable materials.

Better Homes Ottawa - Loan Program

Better Homes Ottawa – Loan Program

Ottawa, Ontario

The City of Ottawa is piloting a loan program for up to three years for home energy efficiency retrofits, to support local residents to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Zero-interest loan rates are expected to be available for 1-2 years while resources are available.

The program offers zero-interest, 20-year loans of up to $125,000 (or 10 percent of the current value assessment of the home, whichever is less) to cover the cost of home energy improvements like thermal envelope upgrades (basement/attic/exterior wall insulation, window/door replacements), mechanical systems (thermostats and controllers, air/ground source heat pumps, solar hot water systems), renewable energy (solar photovoltaic systems), EV chargers (Level 2), and the addition of rental suites (up to a maximum of 30% of the value of the loan).

With zero-interest, 20-year loans that are tied to the property, not the individual, the Better Homes Ottawa – Loan Program makes it easier and more affordable for homeowners to pay for these home improvements over time.

Application Process

  • Complete a pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment. This assessment provides an NRCan EnerGuide rating for the home and recommends improvements that are customized for the home. Apply here.
  • Complete the Better Homes Loan Program Application Form.
  • If the homeowner’s Better Homes Loan Program Application Form meets all requirements of the program, the homeowner is issued a Notice to Proceed. Here, the homeowner receives a Better Homes Loan Program File Reference Number.
  • The homeowner can apply to any rebate programs they may be eligible for and get estimates from the contractor(s). Eligible costs are those that are incurred after the Notice to Proceed is issued.
  • Submit your Funding Request Form. At this stage of the process, a homeowner can choose to request 30% of funds upfront to cover deposits.
  • Complete a post-retrofit EnerGuide assessment after the retrofit projects. This assessment provides an updated EnerGuide rating for the home. Apply here.
  • Sign the Property Owner Agreement and submit a Project Completion Report.
  • The City of Ottawa provides the balance of the loan to the homeowner that they can use to pay the contractor(s).
  • The homeowner repays the loan over time via their property tax bill. A homeowner can choose to pay off the loan in a lump sum at any point without penalty.

Apply Today!

Newfoundland

Homesol now Services Newfoundland & Labrador

Newfoundland & Labrador

Homesol Building Solutions now has Energy Advisors in Newfoundland and Labrador! Newfoundland is the latest province Homesol has expanded to, and now our services cover all the Atlantic provinces.

Homesol’s Canada Expansion

Starting in Ottawa in 1999, since then we have expanded to cover all of Ontario, then New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and now Newfoundland and Labrador. As the demand for Energy Advisors surges across the country, Homesol will soon be a coast-to-coast proud Canadian business!

If you are interested in having an Energy Assessment completed for your home to make energy-efficient and environmentally upgrades, contact us today!

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Homesol at Watercolour Westport

Watercolour Westport

Over the Labour Day Weekend in 2021, the Homesol Building Solutions team was at the grand unveiling of Canada’s first Net-Zero community in Westport, Ontario. The community is called Watercolour Westport being built by Landark Homes. We have been working closely with Landark since even before ground broke on this first-of-its-kind community in Canada.

Homesol’s Contribution

Homesol is Landark’s net-zero energy advisor. We’ve been helping Landark since the inception of this community. We’ve been consulting with them on the performance aspects and the building science aspects of designing the house from insulation levels to airtightness details to mechanical specs.

We also performed the airtightness testing of the homes, and we do that in a couple of stages. We do that first at mid-construction, and when the house is being built and the air barriers complete. We’ll come in and do an air test just to make sure that the airtightness target is being met before it gets covered up. If it’s not being met, then we help find the leaks and suggest ways of sealing them.

Then we come back in at the final stage to do the final inspection to verify that all the mechanicals that were supposed to be installed are installed. And then we do another final air test. And that’s what we put into the energy model for the label.

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The Canada Greener Homes Grant

About the Canada Greener Homes Grant

In the late Spring of 2021, the Federal Government of Canada announced the Canada Greener Homes Grant available to Canadian homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. Homeowners who are eligible can apply and receive up to $5,000 in rebates for making energy-efficient and environmentally friendly retrofits to their homes include solar panels, air-source heat pumps, windows, furnaces, and more.

Getting Started

During the process, you will need to complete two EnerGuide evaluations; a pre and post-retrofit evaluation. These evaluations are completed by NRCan registered energy advisors.

When you register, you will search using your postal code and select a service organization, like Homesol, in your area. Once you choose your service organization and request your evaluation, you will be contacted by an energy advisor to set up your pre-retrofit evaluation appointment. You will not be reimbursed for the pre-retrofit evaluation unless you continue through the full Greener Homes Grant process.

The pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation provides you expert advice on what retrofits make the most sense for your home. It will help you understand how to improve the energy performance of your home. You must complete at least one recommended upgrade to receive any rebate (including one for the energy evaluations.

Post-Retrofit

When the pre-retrofit evaluation is complete, the energy advisor will provide you with:

    • An EnerGuide home rating and a label
    • A Homeowner Information Sheet that outlines the house as it is
    • A Renovation Upgrade Report with recommendations for improving your home’s energy performance

The post-retrofit evaluation, which you will receive after the work is complete, provides a measure of energy saved and greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of the retrofits.

You could receive a total reimbursement of up to $5,000 for retrofits and a contribution to the cost of the pre- and post-retrofit evaluations of up to a maximum of $600.

Learn More